Red Fern Forest in the morning, through the window shade

She didn’t seem impressed with his find. A frown tugged at his features as he dropped the leaf onto the ground, his mismatched gaze sweeping over their surroundings once more as he searched for something else of interest. He padded away from the fern leaf, his nose pointed to the ground as he maneuvered through the snow. Pumpkin Eyes’ voice caused his ears to snap in her direction, although his gaze was still trained on his path. I dono, he responded in a soft, disinterested voice, maybe it’s magic. He snorted in amusement, a lopsided grin collapsing onto his tawny maw as he continued forward. Sachiel sincerely doubted that the fern was magic, as that sort of thing didn’t exist, but he didn’t have a better answer for his greyscale friend. He knew some plants but he didn’t know anything about the crimson ferns in the northern woods.

There was another feather at the base of the tree where Hawthorne had found hers, half buried beneath the snow. He nosed it out, his expression softening as he turned back to his friend. Look, he chirped with his plume wagging slowly behind him, we’re matching.

Hawthorne snorted at the comment of magic. Maybe. The peppered girl hummed back. She had never heard such mythical tales but the idea of the leaf being magical was certainly tempting. Her orange eyes exmanied the leaf as her companion wandered off to who knew where.

She smiled wide and her tail eagerly whipped behind her. Perfect! She chirpped with glee before a laugh fell free from her. I got an idea. The young female hummed. What if instead of taking these back to the Edge den we leave them at the den in this place? Our own place to hide things that only we'll know about. A peppered brow raised to wonder how the tawny boy might take the idea.

He turned to her as she spoke, her words dripping with subdued tones of green and yellow. The good kind of yellow, that radiated with happiness and excitement, not the kind that made his head ache. He knew he had failed in finding something better than her but the boy didn’t mind. Their friendship wasn’t about competition, as much as they joked about the subject. He was fortunate to have found her, and to have been able to join Askan’s group, and cherished the time they spent together. Aside from Castel (and his father) he hadn’t had many friends in the Vale. The other cub, whatever his name was, had been absent for the most part. Then he, too, disappeared. The girl from the neighbouring pack, Mabel, had been a friend to him. With her soft shades of ivory and lavender. He actually kind of missed her—he had never gotten a chance to say good-bye.

Y’know, he started, his head tipping to the side as a mischievous grin rolled onto his dark lips, you’re not all just good looks, Pumpkin. He lifted a forepaw and gently tapped one, two, three times on the middle of her forehead. Y’got some brains in there too!

She playfully clicked her teeth at him when he spoke about her having brains. Don't push your luck, Plant Boy. While the words may have been sharp, her tone gave away that she wasn't offended. It was nice knowing that she had the advantage of being smart in a hidden way. Also meant that maybe she didn't come off as pompous.

Come on. The peppered girl motioned as she began to lead them off to the old den that hid deep in the glen. The sooner they could store things and head back home, the less likely it was they might be scolded for an extended absence.

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